Electric razor



Patented Feb. l0, 1925.

CHARLES n. KENNEY, or NEW LONDON',

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO KENNEY ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF NEW-LONDON, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC RAZOR.`

` Application led March 17, 1921.. Serial No. 453,020.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KENNET, a citizen of the United States, residing in New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Razors, of which they following is a specilication.

My present invention relates to electrically operated razors, and one object is to provide a safety razor, the blade of which is electrically actuated for cutting purposes.

Another object isto provide a safety razor in which the blade under no-rmal conditions is electrically actuated for cutting purposes, but which is'capable lof use as an ordinary safety razor, if means for supplying the electric power is for any reason unavailable:

One feature of my invention is the use of a single blade movable for cutting purposes, which movement in the present embodiment is oscillatory.

Another feature is the use of a single blade movable for cutting purposes by electrically actuated means.

Another feature is the use lof a sin le blade movable for cutting purposes y v means actuated by an electric solenoid.

Another feature is the use of a pivotally movable cover for retaining the blade l"in cutting position.

Another feature is the use of a pivotally movable cover for retaining the blade in cutting position and which also is a facial guide, and a guard fo-r the cutting e'dge of the blade.

These and other objects, featuresy and capabilities of my invention will be disclosed in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of my invention, and

which form part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my razor.

Fi 2 is a fragmentary detail view, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 1, partly in section, and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is an exterior view of the portion of `the razor shown in Fig. 2, showing the latch cover in raised position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cutting mechanism of the razor.

Fig. 5 is a planview of the blade supporting plate, and an edge view of the same shown in projection below.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view, andan end view in alined projection, of the supporting plate actuating crank; Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 being on the scale of Figa. 2.

Similar reference charac-ters or numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. c

,Referring to Fig. 2, my razor, which is made of any suitable metal, or material, comprises a support A, having a base 10 and body 1l extending transversely thereto. The base 10 and body 11 are provided with communicating interior chambers 12 and 13, the chamber 12 being larger than the chamber 13. The chamber 13 communicates with a bore' 14, in the body portion, shown in' outline', which `borefis threaded, as at 15,

Fig. 1, for receiving the handle B later described.

The base 10 is provided on its lower loni' gitudinal edge with a series of guard prongs 16, and on the upper longitudinal edge with an apertured liat lug or extension 17, Fig. 4, located substantially midway ofthe upper longitudinal edge.` The ends of the upper longitudinal edge are provided with a pair of apertured extensions or ears 18,-the purpose of said lug and ears being later described. t

1 The razor supporting plate 1.9, is of rectangular shape, and is provided on its upper longitudinal edge, Fig. 5, with a flat lug or extension 20, located substantially 'midway of vthe -upper longitudinal edge, and arranged for bearing upon the lug 17 of the base 10, the supporting plate being pivotally attached to the base 10, as by the transverse pin 21 on the rear side of the Hat lug or extension 20 which engages in the aperturd flatvlug 17 of the base 10.

The supportingplate 19 has on its front.v i

surface spaced pro]ections or' studs 22 ovalting, or partly cutting out, the plate 19 and turning rearwardly the slit or partly cut out portion to provide the lug, the purpose of the lug 23 being later stated.

The cover 24, has a rectangular body portion 25, when viewed as in Fig. 4, the upper 2 and 3 for passing as a guiding surface over the face of the user of the razor, the lower edge of the cover serving as a guard for the cutting edge of the razor blade. The cover on its inner side is provided with bearing faces 29 and 30.

A spring, such as the flat spring 31, is secured to each end of the upper vedge of the base 10, as by the screws 32, the springs 31 being provided with'rounded portions 33 and outwardly extending ends 34, the intention being that the rounded extension 27 of the cover 24, shall engage in the rounded interiors of the rounded .portions 33 of the` springs 31, for retaining the cover when it is in open position, and shall engage vunder the outwardly extending ends 34 for retainingrthe cover when it is in closed position.

he crank or bell-crank 35 comprises a nose portion 36 and an arm 37, the nose porf tion having a recess therein for loosely receiving the lug'23 of the supporting plate 19, the crank 35 being pivoted in the chamber 13 of the body 11 ofthe support A, as by the pin 38, and the arm 37 of the crank extending across the line of the bore 14 of the body 11, the arm 37 being held in this position by the spring 35 arranged between the nose ortion 36 and the interior wall of the4 cham er 13.

The handle B has an enlarged ,hollow por# tion 39., anda constricted portion 40 having a 'bore 41 communicating with the interior of the portion 39, which bore is intended to receive a reciprocatable plunger, such as 42, one end of which is contactable with the arm 37 of the crank 35,. for actuating the crank, the constricted portion 40 at one end-'being exteriorly threaded, or otherwise suitably arranged, for securing the handle B to the body portion 11 of the support A.

The plunger 42 is reciprocatably actuatedby electric means, in the present instance by aisolenoid S,havinga core attached to -the `plunger and movable in one direction by electric currentA and, -upon breaking of the circuit, movable in the reverse direction by spring means, lthe end of the plungerbeing contactable with the` arm 37 of the crank'y 35, when the plunger is moved in one direction and out of contact therewith through movement in the reverse direction, whereby an intermittent movement is imparted to the arm 37, and movement of the supporting plate 19 afforded.

The razor blade 43, which is rectangulaiin form, may have a single cutting edge or two cutting edges, the blade shown being what is known as a Gillette blade, and is positionable on' the front surface of the supporting plate 19,'by means of circular spaced holes in the blade engageable over the studs 22 of the supporting plate 19, l-'or cutting or oscillating movement of the. blade with the supporting plate.

In o eration. The parts described being assemb ed in operative relation, the cover 24 is swung open, a's in Fig. 3, being held in position by engagement of the lugs 27 with the interiors of the curved portions 33 of the springs 31, and the razor blade is positioned on the supporting plate 19 as above stated. The cover 2st-is then pushed downwardly,the faces 29' and 30 thereof bearing loosely on the razor blade to retain it on the supporting plate and yet not prevent cuttin or oscillatory movement of the blade an plate, by engagement of the lugs or extensions 27 under the outwardly extending ends. 34 of the springs 31. A suitable lplug` having a wire for connection to a source of electricity, is inserted in the end of the handle B, neither said plug, wire nor source of electricity being shown.

`The current being turned on, the plunger 42 is thereupon reciprocally actuated, and moves the arm 37 of the crank 35, and causes movement of the supporting plate on its pivot pin 21, due to enga-gement of the nose 36 of the crank with the lug 23 of the supporting plate, whereby the cuttingedge of the razor blade has a transverse movement of eater amplitude at the ends than at the mi dle of the blade, as shown in outline in Fig. 4.

Havingv thus described my invention, it should be understood that there may be modifications thereof and variations therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention, or exceeding the scope of L,the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is z'- 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a handle containing an electrically reciprocable plunger-of a blade support pivoted to said handle, a blade fixedly positioned on said support and means actuated by said plunger to impart an oscillatory movement to said blade support and the blade positioned thereon. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a handle containin electrically reciprocable means, of a bla e pivotally attached to said handle, and means factuatedby said reciprocating means for imciprocating means, of a blade pivotally attached to said handle, and means actuated by 4said reciprocating means for imparting to the cutting edge of said blade, a transverse movement of greater amplitude at the ends1 than the middle, support and the blade positioned thereon.

4. In a'device of the class described, the

. thereto, oval lu 4the movement of. said reciprocating means for imparting pan oscillatory motion to the blade, support and the blade positioned thereon.

6. In a device of the class described, the

comLlnation with a handle containing recipy lroca/ting means, of a blade pivotedto said handle, and a bell crank lever pivoted in said handle, and actuated by the movement of said reciprocating means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the cutting edge of said blade.

7.5In a device of Hhe class described, the combination with a handle containing electrically reciprocating means, of a blade support pivotally mounted on said handle, a projection on said support and means cooperating with said lng and actuated by 'said reciprocating means for imparting an oscillatory movement to the blade support and the blade positioned on said support.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination 7ith a handle containing electrically vactuated plunger means, of a blade support pivoted on said handle, a blade positioned on 4s aid su p0rt, bell crank means pi voted to sald han le, and actuated by said reciprocable means, for imparting'an oscillatory movement to said blade support and the blade thereon as a unit, and tension means cooperatin with said bell crank means to return t e same into ino rative position at the end of each forwar stroke of the plunger means.

oHARLEs H. KENNEY.

Witnesses: i I

, PERRY J. HouiANnER,

MARJoRm K. MoBnma. 

